their own spirit more than made up for it. The " Thread of Scarlet " was a melodrama almost of the Maria Martin type. A murderer sits in a hostelry seeking forgetfulness in the brew, while an innocent man dangles at the end of a rope in the County Gaol. Reports of the victim's ghost are more potent than the local brew, and a moving confession of guilt leads to a powerful curtain. The only flaw was that the man working the curtain was, as usual, fire-watching in the dormitory. A good Concert of which the Programme was :
1. Chorus, " Rise and Shine
2. Piano Solo
V. CALLAGHAN.
3. Sketch, " Wireless or Suchlike "
4. " We Three "
B. TARBUCK, B. CURTIS, J. MCCARTY. 5. Chorus, " In Derry Dale "
6. " Weak Jokes "
C. MILFORD and A. POTTER. 7. Sketch, " Thread of Scarlet "
8. Chorus," When they sound the Last All-Clear "
The last entertainment of the term was a play, Mr. Mismark, an adaptation by Ryder. The plot was good. A retired judge had condemned a man to death, but the execution never took place owing to the criminal's escape. Threatening letters reach the judge at regular intervals, starting with postmarks in the Far East, gradually getting nearer. The judge tries to go into hiding, little thinking that when lie takes his trusty butler with him, he is taking the man who has been waiting to kill him. The dialogue was not up to the standard of the plot, but a good plot takes some killing. Of the actors one must pick ( tit McGuinness as the avenging criminal, who gave an excellent performance. The rest of the cast gave adequate support.
Bowdon House produced an entertaining Concert on February 8th. Berger sang Roselein in German with a quiet charm, and Milford and Potter in contrast were a roaring success. They were even better than on their previous appearance, which is high praise. Oddly enough they do not seem to employ a prompter. The ballad of Robin Hood
was played far too diffidently-. Actors who are obviously conscious of their own absurdity are apt to lapse into giggling incoherence. Reeve's piano solo was a joy. It is a triumph to play the old piano the way he does. Normally it sounds as if the loud pedal is clamped down, but not when Reeve is playing. The two rounds, " Three Blind Mice " and " There was a Tree upon a Hill " ended as rounds should in a riot, and the singers were deservedly called back to repeat the dose. The Programme was
z. Chorus, " Home, Sweet Home, Again "
2. Sketch, " Checkmate "
3. " Roselein "
R. BERGER.
Dialogue
C. MILFORD and A. POTTER. " Ye Banks and Braes "
ST. THOMAS'S CHORUS. Sketch, " Ballad of Robin Hood " Piano solo, " Une Nuit d'Ete "
G. REEVE.
8. Sketch, " The Finger of God "
9. Rounds, '' Three Blind Mice "
" There was a Tree upon a Hill " 10. Chorus, " Till the Lights of London shine
again
Lower IVth can always be reckoned on giving one of the best Concerts of the year, partly because they come fresh to the concert platform and are keen enough to practise carefully beforehand. This year was perhaps not up to the best Lower IVth standard, but it was good entertainment. The first sketch was spoilt by one actor echoing with varying accuracy the part taken by the prompter. It was a pity, because Owen and Gasparelli had given the sketch a good start, but once the prompter takes the stage any play will splutter and fizzle out. A piano solo was announced as " Wine, Women, and Song," but when the wine gave out, the performer realised the hopelessness of continuing the struggle. After an interlude of what I understand is known as Horse-play the stage was ready for the next sketch, " The Buggins Family," a diverting episode of a wellknown family. Halpin was Mrs. Buggins to life,
4.
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